Summary
American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with US Forest Service Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station is seeking FOUR Bioacoustics and Small Mammal Members to contribute to long-term Bioacoustics wildlife monitoring and small mammal trapping alongside PNW Research Station Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: June 16, 2025
End Date: October 31, 2025
*a 20-week minimum commitment is required*

Location Details/Description: Pacific Northwest Research Station, Blue River, Oregon

Members will be housed in a shared bunkhouse at the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest near Blue River, OR, with the potential for short-term travel to other areas of OR and WA early in the season. The HJ Andrews was established in 1948 and has been a site of extensive research on watershed processes, forest ecology, forest-stream interactions, biological diversity, carbon cycling, and disturbance processes. It has also been part of the National Science Foundation’s Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program since 1980. Douglas fir-western hemlock forest dominates at lower elevations and Pacific silver fir forest at upper elevations, with some age classes as old as 500 years. In the last few years, large-scale wildfires have burned a significant area of the HJ Andrews. 

The Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station is a leader in the scientific study of natural resources. We generate and communicate impartial knowledge to help people understand and make informed choices about natural resource management and sustainability. The station has 11 laboratories and research centers in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington as well as 12 active experimental forests, ranges, and watersheds. The PNW Research Station is an integral component of USDA Forest Service Research and Development (R&D), which is the most extensive natural resources research organization in the world. Forest Service R&D comprises five regional research stations, the Forest Products Laboratory, and the International Institute of Tropical Forestry. These research facilities, complemented by a network of 80 experimental forests, are strategically located to reflect the diversity of natural resources across the country. 

For more information about the Pacific Northwest Research Station, please visit the US Forest Service website. 

Position Overview:  

All members will be retrieving autonomous recording units (ARUs) and trapping small mammals.

Retrieving ARUs to monitor for vocal forest wildlife species including:

• Navigating (including orientation using GPS, map, and compass) off trail across steep, rough, uneven, unstable, and brushy slopes in all weather conditions from cold to hot and rainy to dry. Poison oak is prevalent in many study areas. Possibility of encountering bears, cougars and other wildlife while driving or hiking on foot.  
• Front country and backcountry camping will be required to access some sites.  
• Entering data and transferring acoustic files onto permanent storage media.  
• Independently troubleshooting equipment errors in the field.  

Sampling of small mammal communities on the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest including:

• Use of small mammal traps such as Tomahawk traps for chipmunks, ground and tree squirrels, or Sherman traps for mice, voles, and shrews
• Preparing trapping grids, trapping, and handling a wide variety of small mammals that are endemic to the Cascades of Oregon
• Measuring habitat for captured species
• Maintaining accurate field notes, data entry, and data proofing
• Caring for equipment and field vehicles 

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: Mon-Thur, 7:00am - 5:30pm when retrieving ARUs, and Mon-Fri, 8:30am - 5:00pm during the small mammal trapping season. Schedule can be adjusted depending on the needs of the project, with work being done during the day and/or early morning. Members will not work more than 80 hours every 2 weeks. Members trapping for small mammals will be expected to work on Labor Day and Indigenous Peoples Day due to the trapping schedule.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided USFS  housing at no cost for the duration of the term.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. 

Qualifications 

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner. 
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks 
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation. 
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website located on our Indeed homepage.
• Must be willing to handle small mammals. This includes eartagging and collecting samples of blood, feces, or tissue swabs. 

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for these positions can hold or be pursuing a bachelor's degree in a natural resource field, and have experience with wildlife and/or vegetation, either in the field or through coursework. 
• This is a highly physical outdoor position that requires substantial physical fitness and mobility, and a tolerance for extreme weather and demanding conditions. 
• Experience driving 4x4 and/or all-wheel drive vehicles safely in off-road conditions 
• Strong experience hiking daily over long distances in remote, steep, and rocky terrain and in adverse weather conditions (off-trail)
• Competency with data entry, summarizing and compiling data 
• Ability to navigate in remote areas using GPS, mobile devices, and paper maps/compass 
• Knowledge of the basic theories and practices of biological science sufficient to analyze findings 
• Knowledge of the technical processes, procedures and techniques related to biological science samples, measurements, and analysis 
• Ability to work as part of a team to meet project goals, as well as independently to complete survey tasks 
• Familiarity with Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft products 
• Experience conducting field work and biological surveys with established protocols 
• Ability to work independently, and in small groups with minimal supervision, including hiking, driving, following survey protocol 

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions: 

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for handling small animals and plants, and for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain carrying up to 40 lbs., and camp overnight under field conditions. 
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus. Strong color vision is needed to identify some animals and plants, but accommodations are possible. 
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 40 lbs., ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: Work will be mostly outdoors. Outdoor conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions such as snow, heavy rain, and extreme heat is expected. Wildfire smoke in the summer is common; members may be required to wear N95 masks. 
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools. 
• Travel: This position requires occasional domestic travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards:  The ACE members may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, poisonous or thorny plants, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The members may be exposed to wildfire smoke in the late summer/early fall but will be provided with N95 masks to protect airways and/or given alternate tasks to limit exposure and exertion on days where air quality is poor. This position includes handling animals, which may expose members to zoonotic diseases despite wearing PPE. The members are expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members, equipment, or resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety:  If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the US Forest Service. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the US Forest Service. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the US Forest Service, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to US Forest Service and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.